downloadable

Herodotus in his Histories describes the family members lineage of Leonidas which could be traced back 20 generations to the mythical hero Hercules. Leonidas’ father was the Spartan king Anaxandrides, himself the son of King Leon. Anaxandrides, even so, had some challenges in creating an heir just after his initially wife proved barren. The Spartan Ephors and Elders, to safeguard see this website the royal lineage, forced Anaxandrides to take a second wife. She did give birth to a son, Cleomenes, but in a strange twist Anaxandrides’ very first wife announced she was also now pregnant and a further son,...